The “Care to the People” that now graces the exterior walls at the CHA Somerville Campus mural was unveiled last Thursday.
— Photos by Isabel Sami

By Isabel Sami

To brighten and incite joy in Somerville, the Cambridge Health Alliance Foundation had an idea: a beautiful mural at the CHA Somerville Campus. Together with the Somerville Arts Council, the foundation put out a call for local artists to submit ideas for the mural, and Amanda Hill was selected.

On Thursday, August 13, the “Care to the People” mural was unveiled. CHA CEO Dr. Assaad Sayah and Mayor Joe Curtatone introduced the mural, highlighting the mural’s impact on the community. “Art is important because it’s a reminder of our humanity. It offers a conduit to warmth, to connectivity. This mural really is, in a way, medicinal,” the mayor said, referencing the stress and isolation that many residents in Somerville feel during the ongoing pandemic. Dr. Sayah called the mural “something that really speaks to the values and mission of the organization.”

Mayor Joseph Curtatone delivered remarks at the mural’s unveiling.

Amanda Hill, a former Somerville resident now living in Malden, said she spent an estimated 160 hours on the mural over the course of four weeks. Even in the intense July and August heat, Hill painted the wall that stretched approximately 30 by 50 feet. It is the biggest art piece that she has designed and painted on her own. Hill said painting on such a big, urban canvas was disorienting in the beginning, but “once you hit a certain stride it just builds and builds.” She used brushes, rollers, and standard exterior house paint for the project.

The idea for the mural was developed by Hill, Mary Cassesso of CHA, and Iaritza  Menjivar from the Somerville Arts Council, who worked together from the beginning of the project. “The inspiration was stemming from everything that’s been happening over the last couple months and just wanting a moment of joy, so that’s really what the mural represents,” Hill said. “We tied it into the mission of CHA and their vision for the space but also their mission as an organization.”

The unveiling ceremony was attending by those involved in the mural’s creation. Pictured L to R: Mary Cassesso, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Dr. Assaad Sayah, Amanda Hill, Steve Callahan Jr, and Iaritza Menjivar.

Mary Cassesso, president of the CHA Foundation, said the CHA marketing team wanted  to find a way to convey who CHA was more broadly, which resulted in CHA partnering with the Somerville Arts Council and Callahan Construction to create the mural.

“We wanted it originally to be a project that involved the community, and then COVID hit, and then we felt more strongly than ever that we needed the project,” Cassesso said. “People needed something to distract themselves.” She said members of the community have already shown appreciation for the mural, giving compliments and expressing their love of the new artistic installation. “The richness and healing power of art really brings it to life,” Cassesso added.

“It really was a community effort,” Senior Director of Corporate Communications at CHA, David Cecere, added. “It’s meant to be enjoyed by the entire community.”

The “Care to the People” mural can be seen at the CHA Somerville Campus at 230 Highland Ave., facing the street. To contact Amanda Hill or view more of her work, visit abhill.com.

Mural artist Amanda Hill.